102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB4246

 

Introduced 1/5/2022, by Rep. Sue Scherer

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/21B-45

    Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides for the reinstatement of a lapsed Professional Educator License upon the payment by the applicant of a $50 penalty (rather than a $500 penalty). Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4246LRB102 21334 CMG 30446 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
521B-45 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/21B-45)
7    Sec. 21B-45. Professional Educator License renewal.
8    (a) Individuals holding a Professional Educator License
9are required to complete the licensure renewal requirements as
10specified in this Section, unless otherwise provided in this
11Code.
12    Individuals holding a Professional Educator License shall
13meet the renewal requirements set forth in this Section,
14unless otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds
15a license endorsed in more than one area that has different
16renewal requirements, that individual shall follow the renewal
17requirements for the position for which he or she spends the
18majority of his or her time working.
19    (b) All Professional Educator Licenses not renewed as
20provided in this Section shall lapse on September 1 of that
21year. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, if
22a license holder's electronic mail address is available, the
23State Board of Education shall send him or her notification

 

 

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1electronically that his or her license will lapse if not
2renewed, to be sent no more than 6 months prior to the license
3lapsing. Lapsed licenses may be immediately reinstated upon
4(i) payment to the State Board of Education by the applicant of
5a $50 $500 penalty to the State Board of Education or (ii) the
6demonstration of proficiency by completing 9 semester hours of
7coursework from a regionally accredited institution of higher
8education in the content area that most aligns with one or more
9of the educator's endorsement areas. Any and all back fees,
10including without limitation registration fees owed from the
11time of expiration of the license until the date of
12reinstatement, shall be paid and kept in accordance with the
13provisions in Article 3 of this Code concerning an institute
14fund and the provisions in Article 21B of this Code concerning
15fees and requirements for registration. Licenses not
16registered in accordance with Section 21B-40 of this Code
17shall lapse after a period of 6 months from the expiration of
18the last year of registration or on January 1 of the fiscal
19year following initial issuance of the license. An
20unregistered license is invalid after September 1 for
21employment and performance of services in an Illinois public
22or State-operated school or cooperative and in a charter
23school. Any license or endorsement may be voluntarily
24surrendered by the license holder. A voluntarily surrendered
25license shall be treated as a revoked license. An Educator
26License with Stipulations with only a paraprofessional

 

 

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1endorsement does not lapse.
2    (c) From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, in order to
3satisfy the requirements for licensure renewal provided for in
4this Section, each professional educator licensee with an
5administrative endorsement who is working in a position
6requiring such endorsement shall complete one Illinois
7Administrators' Academy course, as described in Article 2 of
8this Code, per fiscal year.
9    (c-5) All licenses issued by the State Board of Education
10under this Article that expire on June 30, 2020 and have not
11been renewed by the end of the 2020 renewal period shall be
12extended for one year and shall expire on June 30, 2021.
13    (d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the
14requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this
15Section, each professional educator licensee may create a
16professional development plan each year. The plan shall
17address one or more of the endorsements that are required of
18his or her educator position if the licensee is employed and
19performing services in an Illinois public or State-operated
20school or cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a
21charter school, the plan shall address that endorsement or
22those endorsements most closely related to his or her educator
23position. Licensees employed and performing services in any
24other Illinois schools may participate in the renewal
25requirements by adhering to the same process.
26    Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the

 

 

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1licensee's professional development activities shall align
2with one or more of the following criteria:
3        (1) activities are of a type that engage participants
4    over a sustained period of time allowing for analysis,
5    discovery, and application as they relate to student
6    learning, social or emotional achievement, or well-being;
7        (2) professional development aligns to the licensee's
8    performance;
9        (3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student
10    growth or district improvement;
11        (4) activities align to State-approved standards; and
12        (5) higher education coursework.
13    (e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator
14licensee shall engage in professional development activities.
15Prior to renewal, the licensee shall enter electronically into
16the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name,
17date, and location of the activity, the number of professional
18development hours, and the provider's name. The following
19provisions shall apply concerning professional development
20activities:
21        (1) Each licensee shall complete a total of 120 hours
22    of professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in
23    order to renew the license, except as otherwise provided
24    in this Section.
25        (2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle,
26    any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not

 

 

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1    working in a position requiring such endorsement is not
2    required to complete Illinois Administrators' Academy
3    courses, as described in Article 2 of this Code. Such
4    licensees must complete one Illinois Administrators'
5    Academy course within one year after returning to a
6    position that requires the administrative endorsement.
7        (3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement
8    who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or
9    an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in
10    an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall
11    complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as
12    described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in
13    addition to 100 hours of professional development per
14    5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code.
15        (4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for
16    Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher
17    designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of
18    professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order
19    to renew the license.
20        (5) Licensees working in a position that does not
21    require educator licensure or working in a position for
22    less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be
23    exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration
24    fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the
25    license.
26        (6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits

 

 

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1    from a State of Illinois retirement system shall notify
2    the State Board of Education using ELIS, and the license
3    shall be maintained in retired status. For any renewal
4    cycle in which a licensee retires during the renewal
5    cycle, the licensee must complete professional development
6    activities on a prorated basis depending on the number of
7    years during the renewal cycle the educator held an active
8    license. If a licensee retires during a renewal cycle, the
9    licensee must notify the State Board of Education using
10    ELIS that the licensee wishes to maintain the license in
11    retired status and must show proof of completion of
12    professional development activities on a prorated basis
13    for all years of that renewal cycle for which the license
14    was active. An individual with a license in retired status
15    shall not be required to complete professional development
16    activities or pay registration fees until returning to a
17    position that requires educator licensure. Upon returning
18    to work in a position that requires the Professional
19    Educator License, the licensee shall immediately pay a
20    registration fee and complete renewal requirements for
21    that year. A license in retired status cannot lapse.
22    Beginning on January 6, 2017 (the effective date of Public
23    Act 99-920) through December 31, 2017, any licensee who
24    has retired and whose license has lapsed for failure to
25    renew as provided in this Section may reinstate that
26    license and maintain it in retired status upon providing

 

 

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1    proof to the State Board of Education using ELIS that the
2    licensee is retired and is not working in a position that
3    requires a Professional Educator License.
4        (7) For any renewal cycle in which professional
5    development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the
6    licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the
7    minimum professional development hours required in this
8    Section prior to September 1 of that year. Professional
9    development hours used to fulfill the minimum required
10    hours for a renewal cycle may be used for only one renewal
11    cycle. For any fiscal year or renewal cycle in which an
12    Illinois Administrators' Academy course was required but
13    not completed, the licensee shall complete any missed
14    Illinois Administrators' Academy courses prior to
15    September 1 of that year. The licensee may complete all
16    deficient hours and Illinois Administrators' Academy
17    courses while continuing to work in a position that
18    requires that license until September 1 of that year.
19        (8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the
20    professional development renewal requirements set forth in
21    this Section at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is
22    ineligible to register his or her license and may submit
23    an appeal to the State Superintendent of Education for
24    reinstatement of the license.
25        (9) If professional development opportunities were
26    unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were

 

 

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1    unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond
2    August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be
3    submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the
4    State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an
5    extension is approved, the license shall remain valid
6    during the extension period.
7        (10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to
8    December 27, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act
9    98-610) shall commence the annual renewal process with the
10    first scheduled registration due after December 27, 2013
11    (the effective date of Public Act 98-610).
12        (11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
13    subsection (e), if a licensee earns more than the required
14    number of professional development hours during a renewal
15    cycle, then the licensee may carry over any hours earned
16    from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the
17    renewal cycle. Any hours carried over in this manner must
18    be applied to the next renewal cycle. Illinois
19    Administrators' Academy courses or hours earned in those
20    courses may not be carried over.
21    (f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to
22the required questions under penalty of perjury.
23    (f-5) The State Board of Education shall conduct random
24audits of licensees to verify a licensee's fulfillment of the
25professional development hours required under this Section.
26Upon completion of a random audit, if it is determined by the

 

 

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1State Board of Education that the licensee did not complete
2the required number of professional development hours or did
3not provide sufficient proof of completion, the licensee shall
4be notified that his or her license has lapsed. A license that
5has lapsed under this subsection may be reinstated as provided
6in subsection (b).
7    (g) The following entities shall be designated as approved
8to provide professional development activities for the renewal
9of Professional Educator Licenses:
10        (1) The State Board of Education.
11        (2) Regional offices of education and intermediate
12    service centers.
13        (3) Illinois professional associations representing
14    the following groups that are approved by the State
15    Superintendent of Education:
16            (A) school administrators;
17            (B) principals;
18            (C) school business officials;
19            (D) teachers, including special education
20        teachers;
21            (E) school boards;
22            (F) school districts;
23            (G) parents; and
24            (H) school service personnel.
25        (4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher
26    education that offer Illinois-approved educator

 

 

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1    preparation programs and public community colleges subject
2    to the Public Community College Act.
3        (5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools
4    authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint
5    educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this
6    Code for the purposes of providing career and technical
7    education or special education services.
8        (6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of December
9    31, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-1147), has
10    had or has a grant from or a contract with the State Board
11    of Education to provide professional development services
12    in the area of English Learning to Illinois school
13    districts, teachers, or administrators.
14        (7) State agencies, State boards, and State
15    commissions.
16        (8) Museums as defined in Section 10 of the Museum
17    Disposition of Property Act.
18    (h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this
19Section shall make available professional development
20opportunities that satisfy at least one of the following:
21        (1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and
22    district leaders who guide continuous professional
23    development;
24        (2) improve the learning of students;
25        (3) organize adults into learning communities whose
26    goals are aligned with those of the school and district;

 

 

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1        (4) deepen educator's content knowledge;
2        (5) provide educators with research-based
3    instructional strategies to assist students in meeting
4    rigorous academic standards;
5        (6) prepare educators to appropriately use various
6    types of classroom assessments;
7        (7) use learning strategies appropriate to the
8    intended goals;
9        (8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to
10    collaborate;
11        (9) prepare educators to apply research to decision
12    making; or
13        (10) provide educators with training on inclusive
14    practices in the classroom that examines instructional and
15    behavioral strategies that improve academic and
16    social-emotional outcomes for all students, with or
17    without disabilities, in a general education setting.
18    (i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this
19Section shall do the following:
20        (1) align professional development activities to the
21    State-approved national standards for professional
22    learning;
23        (2) meet the professional development criteria for
24    Illinois licensure renewal;
25        (3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains
26    how it aligns to State standards and identify the

 

 

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1    assessment for determining the expected impact on student
2    learning or school improvement;
3        (4) maintain original documentation for completion of
4    activities;
5        (5) provide license holders with evidence of
6    completion of activities;
7        (6) request an Illinois Educator Identification Number
8    (IEIN) for each educator during each professional
9    development activity; and
10        (7) beginning on July 1, 2019, register annually with
11    the State Board of Education prior to offering any
12    professional development opportunities in the current
13    fiscal year.
14    (j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual
15audits of a subset of approved providers, except for school
16districts, which shall be audited by regional offices of
17education and intermediate service centers. The State Board of
18Education shall ensure that each approved provider, except for
19a school district, is audited at least once every 5 years. The
20State Board of Education may conduct more frequent audits of
21providers if evidence suggests the requirements of this
22Section or administrative rules are not being met.
23        (1) (Blank).
24        (2) Approved providers shall comply with the
25    requirements in subsections (h) and (i) of this Section by
26    annually submitting data to the State Board of Education

 

 

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1    demonstrating how the professional development activities
2    impacted one or more of the following:
3            (A) educator and student growth in regards to
4        content knowledge or skills, or both;
5            (B) educator and student social and emotional
6        growth; or
7            (C) alignment to district or school improvement
8        plans.
9        (3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review
10    the annual data collected by the State Board of Education,
11    regional offices of education, and intermediate service
12    centers in audits to determine if the approved provider
13    has met the criteria and should continue to be an approved
14    provider or if further action should be taken as provided
15    in rules.
16    (k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal
17cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each
185-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional
19development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed
20and entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the
21registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or
22debit card.
23    (l) Any professional educator licensee endorsed for school
24support personnel who is employed and performing services in
25Illinois public schools and who holds an active and current
26professional license issued by the Department of Financial and

 

 

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1Professional Regulation or a national certification board, as
2approved by the State Board of Education, related to the
3endorsement areas on the Professional Educator License shall
4be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional
5development requirements provided for in this Section. Such
6individuals shall be required to pay only registration fees to
7renew the Professional Educator License. An individual who
8does not hold a license issued by the Department of Financial
9and Professional Regulation shall complete professional
10development requirements for the renewal of a Professional
11Educator License provided for in this Section.
12    (m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and
13Licensure Board must be made within 30 days after receipt of
14notice from the State Superintendent of Education that a
15license will not be renewed based upon failure to complete the
16requirements of this Section. A licensee may appeal that
17decision to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
18in a manner prescribed by rule.
19        (1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State
20    Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be
21    sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
22    State Board of Education.
23        (2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
24    shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license
25    within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to
26    determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of

 

 

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1    this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure
2    Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its
3    determination based upon the record of review, which shall
4    consist of the following:
5            (A) the regional superintendent of education's
6        rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license,
7        if applicable;
8            (B) any evidence submitted to the State
9        Superintendent along with the individual's electronic
10        statement of assurance for renewal; and
11            (C) the State Superintendent's rationale for
12        nonrenewal of the license.
13        (3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
14    shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding
15    license renewal by certified mail, return receipt
16    requested, no later than 30 days after reaching a
17    decision. Upon receipt of notification of renewal, the
18    licensee, using ELIS, shall pay the applicable
19    registration fee for the next cycle using a form of credit
20    or debit card.
21    (n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be
22necessary to implement this Section.
23(Source: P.A. 100-13, eff. 7-1-17; 100-339, eff. 8-25-17;
24100-596, eff. 7-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 101-85, eff.
251-1-20; 101-531, eff. 8-23-19; 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)
 
26    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

 

 

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1becoming law.